I’m Deborah Beidel, Professor of Psychology, and This is How I Work

I am Trustee Chair and Pegasus Professor of Psychology and Medical Education at the University of Central Florida. I am also the Associate Chair for Research in the Department of Psychology and the Director of UCF RESTORES, a clinical research center dedicated to understanding psychopathology, developing and evaluating treatment and disseminating efficacious treatment for trauma, stress, and PTSD. We also work in the area of social anxiety disorder. Our work covers prevention and resilience as well as intervention. A unique feature of our work is the inclusion of technology to enhance standard treatments, including virtual reality, serious gaming, and artificially intelligent avatars.

Location: University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL

Current Gig: Trustee Chair and Pegasus Professor of Psychology and Medical Education

One word/phrase that describes your work style: Perfectionistic

Current computer/mobile device: MacBook Air, iPad, iPhone

What apps/tools/software can you not live without? Dropbox, 1Password

What’s your best time-saving shortcut or life hack? I have someone else keep my work calendar.

What’s your workspace set up like? I am the rescuer of two cats and one dog. They hang with me in my home office. From left to right – Bunker (cat), Cassie (dog, who thinks she is a cat) and Divot (cat).

How do you keep track of things you need to do? I still use paper lists. If anyone has a good app, please send to me.

What everyday thing can you do better than most people? What’s your secret? I am a great cook of anything Italian. My secret is that I learned at the knee of my Italian grandmother.

What do you listen to while you work? If I am just doing “regular work”, it is either Broadway show tunes (I know the lyrics to most tunes by heart) or “crooners” such as Frank Sinatra, Andre Bocelli, or Michael Buble. If I really need to write, then jazz such as Keiko Matsui.

What are you currently reading?The Witches by Stacey Schiff.

How do you recharge? I go to the theater as often as possible. I also engage in a lot of community activities – I am currently working on a city-wide mural project to commemorate the Pulse Nightclub shooting victims. I also get actively involved in political campaigns.

What’s your sleep routine like? I’m typically in bed by 10:30pm and awake by 6:00am – even on weekends. I just naturally wake up at that time.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? My dad told me “Do everything that you want to do. At the end of your life, you don’t want to say ‘Darn, I wish I had tried that’.”